Amusement device



March 1944- R. H. D. WESTMAAS 2,343,489

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Aug. 5, 1942 [Taper/#2 ll flfidas INVENTOR.

ATI'D R N EYB Patented Mar. 7, 1944 AMUSEMENT DEVICE Rupert H. D. Westmaas, Georgetown, Demerara, British Guiana.

Application August 5, 1942, Serial No. 453,699

1 Claim.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the invention; and

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of Figure 1.

In the embodiment selected for illustration, I make use of a sole section I of oval configuration when viewed according to Figure 2, with its major axis paralleling the axis of the foot to which the shoe is attached. Section in includes a sole part l2 to which a sole plate It is secured by screws it. An inwardly extending flange I8 is provided about the upper end of the sole l2.

An upper or shoe section 20 is resiliently associated with the neck section [0, section 20 comprising a sole 22 terminating in a head 24 at its lower end fitting loosely inside the sole 12. Between the sole 26 of the head 24 and the sole plate E4 is interposed a plurality of compression springs 28. Normally the head 24 is yieldingly held in engagement with the flange l8.

Section 20 is of hollow configuration for weight reducing purposes and is provided with a flange 3! at its upper end to which is secured a shoe plate 32 by screws 3-1. A heel boot 36 is secured to the shoe plate 34 and includes an ankle-embracing portion 38 which may be strapped about the ankle of the wearer. An instep strap 40 is secured to the shoe plate 32, which coacts with the heel boot 36 to firmly connect the device with the foot of the wearer.

The side wall of the sole section is provided with vertical rows of ball bearings 42 for guidingly engaging the face 44 of the head 24. Ball bearings are also provided in the edge face of the flange 8 for guidingly engaging the neck face 48 of the section 20.

The section 20 telescopes freely with respect to the sole section In for compressing the springs 28, as when running and jumping, to the end that the wearer may run and jump with a sprin ing movement by reason of the reaction of the springs 28. These springs are so distributed as to provide a good balancing engagement with the sole 26.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

A device of the character set forth comprising a sole section of hollow formation and provided at its upper side with an inturned flange, vertical rows of bearings mounted on the inner side of the sole section, bearings carried by the inner edge of the flange, a shoe section having a head and neck, the head being larger in horizontal dimensions than the flange and located within the sole section below the flange and the neck extending upwardly from the head through the flange of the sole section, the head having a vertical wall contacting with said first bearings and the neck contacting with said second bearings, resilient means located betweenthe lower side of the head and the bottom of the sole section normally holding the head in contact with the flange, and means carried by the upper end of the neck to secure the device to the foot.

RUPERT H. D. WESTMAAS. 

